Epitaph:
Between WW11 and the collapse of the Soviet Union, we saw our enemies as the evil ones--just as we do now. The enemy had WMD--just as they do now. They spied on their citizens without warrants--just as we do now. Their citizens could be fired and were called unpatriotic for criticizing their leader--just as we can now.
They excluded god from their government--just as we do now. They had secret prisons where they tortured people--just as we do now. They believed in spreading their ideology throughout the world at any cost--just as we do now. They sent their soldiers to die in the middle east--just as we do now.
Their empire ended in economic collapse--our national debt will double under these Republicans to over $9 trillion. We met the enemy and it could have been us.
30 March, 2006
who can disobey the law
Must the President of the United States obey the law? Ordinarily, the answer of course is yes, unless the law itself is unconstitutional. However, the President does not have the last word on what is or is not constitutional. That decision belongs to the Supreme Court.
Hey, if the President can pick and chose so can we. A new bill introduced by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) yesterday would set the stage for the Supreme Court to consider the legality of the Bush Administration's warrantless surveillance program by granting legal standing to litigants seeking to challenge the program.
Hey, if the President can pick and chose so can we. A new bill introduced by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) yesterday would set the stage for the Supreme Court to consider the legality of the Bush Administration's warrantless surveillance program by granting legal standing to litigants seeking to challenge the program.
borrow and spend republicans
The national debt will almost double to more than $9 trillion under Bush's tenure in office, a natural result from a borrow and spend fiscal policy that says you can have guns, butter, tax cuts for the wealthy , and never mind the deficit. ... It holds no real plan or prospect of balancing the budget.
28 March, 2006
foreign policy,international relations
The Bush administration, with its insistence on absolute power for the executive branch, has managed to blow this opportunity to win hearts and minds abroad. Administration lawyers will argue Tuesday that Hamdan has almost no rights. Worse, the government contends that the Supreme Court has no right to be hearing his case.
A former taxi driver with a fourth-grade education in his native Yemen, he is one of just 10 detainees who have actually been charged with terrorism and war crimes.Whether he's a terrorist collaborator or a flunky who was swept off the battlefield in Afghanistan is hard to determine. The details of his supposed offenses are unknown.
The message from the Supreme Court Tuesday could have been a shining slice of the democratic ideal: the rule of law by an independent judiciary, a concept sacred to the Founding Fathers and a model for the world. Instead, Tuesday's hearing projects the image of an administration that has botched the handling of prisoner issues and given the USA a black eye internationally in the process.
Hamdan, thought to be in his mid-30s, has become a high-profile pawn in the administration's stubborn contention that it doesn't have to answer to anyone — not Congress, not the courts and not international treaties and organizations — in its pursuit of the war on terror.
The administration asserts the right to unilaterally designate individuals as "enemy combatants" and hold them prisoner indefinitely, possibly forever.
A former taxi driver with a fourth-grade education in his native Yemen, he is one of just 10 detainees who have actually been charged with terrorism and war crimes.Whether he's a terrorist collaborator or a flunky who was swept off the battlefield in Afghanistan is hard to determine. The details of his supposed offenses are unknown.
The message from the Supreme Court Tuesday could have been a shining slice of the democratic ideal: the rule of law by an independent judiciary, a concept sacred to the Founding Fathers and a model for the world. Instead, Tuesday's hearing projects the image of an administration that has botched the handling of prisoner issues and given the USA a black eye internationally in the process.
Hamdan, thought to be in his mid-30s, has become a high-profile pawn in the administration's stubborn contention that it doesn't have to answer to anyone — not Congress, not the courts and not international treaties and organizations — in its pursuit of the war on terror.
The administration asserts the right to unilaterally designate individuals as "enemy combatants" and hold them prisoner indefinitely, possibly forever.
the soldiers media and attitudes
A new Zogby poll came out today. What is getting coverage in a New York Times article is that 72% of U.S. soldiers in Iraq believe we should substantially withdraw sooner rather than later.
85% believe that the primary reason we are in Iraq is “to retaliate for Saddam’s role in the 9-11 attacks,” while 77% said that “the main or a major reason” for the war was “to stop Saddam from protecting al Qaeda in Iraq.”
This is a year and a half after the 9/11 Commission dismissed any meaningful relationship between Iraq and the 9/11 attacks or al Qaeda. Perhaps we cannot expect American soldiers to be better informed than the public at large and a large slice of the public has often linked Iraq and 9/11, in no small part because of innuendo from the Administration or direct claims, particularly from Vice President Cheney.
Yet, today polls indicate that less than a third of the public still believe that Iraq had anything to do with 9/11. Soldiers in Iraq get their news through media that the military controls or at least is aware of. It is a shame that they are so poorly informed about why they are fighting.
85% believe that the primary reason we are in Iraq is “to retaliate for Saddam’s role in the 9-11 attacks,” while 77% said that “the main or a major reason” for the war was “to stop Saddam from protecting al Qaeda in Iraq.”
This is a year and a half after the 9/11 Commission dismissed any meaningful relationship between Iraq and the 9/11 attacks or al Qaeda. Perhaps we cannot expect American soldiers to be better informed than the public at large and a large slice of the public has often linked Iraq and 9/11, in no small part because of innuendo from the Administration or direct claims, particularly from Vice President Cheney.
Yet, today polls indicate that less than a third of the public still believe that Iraq had anything to do with 9/11. Soldiers in Iraq get their news through media that the military controls or at least is aware of. It is a shame that they are so poorly informed about why they are fighting.
26 March, 2006
mideast policy,lobbyists, vulnerable to terrorism?
According to the two academics, the United States' "unwavering support" for Israel — including the $3 billion a year we give in direct assistance, as well as the decades of unequivocal military and diplomatic support we've provided — is justified by neither strategic nor moral imperatives.
Perhaps Israel was a strategic asset during the Cold War (oil embargo aside), but more recently it has inflamed Arab and Islamic public opinion and emboldened the world's Osama bin Ladens, they say.
It has made us more — not less — vulnerable to terrorism. What's more, Israel routinely ignores U.S. requests (to stop building settlements, say, or end "targeted assassinations"). Our acceptance of its nuclear arsenal makes us look hypocritical on proliferation issues.
Nor is our support of Israel morally justifiable, according to Walt and Mearsheimer. Despite the common view, Israel is, in fact, the Goliath in the Middle East, not the David. It is not a truly democratic country, but an avowedly Jewish state in which Arabs live as second-class citizens, a country that has committed crimes against its Palestinian neighbors with which the U.S. should be ashamed to be associated.
So, ask the authors, if neither shared strategic interests nor compelling moral imperatives explain U.S. support for Israel, what does? You guessed it: the "Israel Lobby."
Its most powerful arm is AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (the nation's second most powerful lobby behind AARP, they suggest), but it also includes Christian evangelicals (such as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson), Jewish members of Congress (such as Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut), Christian Zionists in Congress (such as Rep. Tom DeLay, a Texas Republican) and media cheerleaders (such as the Weekly Standard's William Kristol and the entire Wall Street Journal editorial page).
It has its own think tanks, including the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. It has operatives like Martin Indyk — a former AIPAC official, former U.S. ambassador to Israel and now head of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution.
Together, these groups give money, votes, endorsements and intellectual firepower to favored government officials. And enemies of Israel, beware! "The Lobby" can make or break candidates (as when it forced former Sen. Charles Percy of Illinois out of office in 1984) and policymakers (as when it persuaded President Carter not to appoint George Ball as secretary of State).
"The bottom line is that AIPAC, a de facto agent for a foreign government, has a stranglehold on Congress," Walt and Mearsheimer contend.
Most important these days, the lobby includes the hawkish neoconservative Zionists around President Bush — Paul Wolfowitz, Douglas Feith and Elliott Abrams, to name three — who, the academics say, were the driving force behind the movement to topple Saddam Hussein for the benefit of Israel.
It seems silly to deny that a powerful lobby on behalf of Israel exists. The real question is how pernicious it is. Does it, in fact, persuade us to act counter to our national interest — or is it a positive thing? We report, you decide.
Perhaps Israel was a strategic asset during the Cold War (oil embargo aside), but more recently it has inflamed Arab and Islamic public opinion and emboldened the world's Osama bin Ladens, they say.
It has made us more — not less — vulnerable to terrorism. What's more, Israel routinely ignores U.S. requests (to stop building settlements, say, or end "targeted assassinations"). Our acceptance of its nuclear arsenal makes us look hypocritical on proliferation issues.
Nor is our support of Israel morally justifiable, according to Walt and Mearsheimer. Despite the common view, Israel is, in fact, the Goliath in the Middle East, not the David. It is not a truly democratic country, but an avowedly Jewish state in which Arabs live as second-class citizens, a country that has committed crimes against its Palestinian neighbors with which the U.S. should be ashamed to be associated.
So, ask the authors, if neither shared strategic interests nor compelling moral imperatives explain U.S. support for Israel, what does? You guessed it: the "Israel Lobby."
Its most powerful arm is AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (the nation's second most powerful lobby behind AARP, they suggest), but it also includes Christian evangelicals (such as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson), Jewish members of Congress (such as Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut), Christian Zionists in Congress (such as Rep. Tom DeLay, a Texas Republican) and media cheerleaders (such as the Weekly Standard's William Kristol and the entire Wall Street Journal editorial page).
It has its own think tanks, including the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. It has operatives like Martin Indyk — a former AIPAC official, former U.S. ambassador to Israel and now head of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution.
Together, these groups give money, votes, endorsements and intellectual firepower to favored government officials. And enemies of Israel, beware! "The Lobby" can make or break candidates (as when it forced former Sen. Charles Percy of Illinois out of office in 1984) and policymakers (as when it persuaded President Carter not to appoint George Ball as secretary of State).
"The bottom line is that AIPAC, a de facto agent for a foreign government, has a stranglehold on Congress," Walt and Mearsheimer contend.
Most important these days, the lobby includes the hawkish neoconservative Zionists around President Bush — Paul Wolfowitz, Douglas Feith and Elliott Abrams, to name three — who, the academics say, were the driving force behind the movement to topple Saddam Hussein for the benefit of Israel.
It seems silly to deny that a powerful lobby on behalf of Israel exists. The real question is how pernicious it is. Does it, in fact, persuade us to act counter to our national interest — or is it a positive thing? We report, you decide.
25 March, 2006
a question for Republicans?
The Quran is very clear and the words of our prophet are very clear. There can only be one outcome: death," said cleric Khoja Ahmad Sediqi, who is also a member of the Supreme Court. "If Karzai releases him, it will play into the hands of our enemy and there could be an uprising."
Afghanistan's constitution is based on Shariah law, which states that any Muslim who rejects Islam should be sentenced to death, according to Ahmad Fahim Hakim, deputy chairman of the state-sponsored Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission.
A respected cleric in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, Mohammed Qasim, said, "We don't care if the West drops its support for us. God will look after Afghanistan.
As a Christian, my question is, " Why don't we get the hell out of there?"
Afghanistan's constitution is based on Shariah law, which states that any Muslim who rejects Islam should be sentenced to death, according to Ahmad Fahim Hakim, deputy chairman of the state-sponsored Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission.
A respected cleric in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, Mohammed Qasim, said, "We don't care if the West drops its support for us. God will look after Afghanistan.
As a Christian, my question is, " Why don't we get the hell out of there?"
what are these Republicans really up to?
DOD and Army regulations "allow collection about U.S. persons reasonably believed to be engaged, or about to engage, in International terrorist activities."
"Remember, merely receiving information does not constitute 'collection' under AR [Army Regulation] 381-10; collection entails receiving 'for use'," Gen. Noonan wrote.
"Army intelligence may always receive information, if only to determine its intelligence value and whether it can be collected, retained, or disseminated in accordance with governing policy."
The distinction between "receiving" information (always permitted) and "collecting" it (permitted only in certain circumstances) appears to offer considerable leeway for domestic surveillance activities under the existing legal framework.
This in turn makes it harder to understand why the NSA domestic surveillance program departed from previous practice. It makes you wonder what these Republicans are really up to, doesn't it?
"Remember, merely receiving information does not constitute 'collection' under AR [Army Regulation] 381-10; collection entails receiving 'for use'," Gen. Noonan wrote.
"Army intelligence may always receive information, if only to determine its intelligence value and whether it can be collected, retained, or disseminated in accordance with governing policy."
The distinction between "receiving" information (always permitted) and "collecting" it (permitted only in certain circumstances) appears to offer considerable leeway for domestic surveillance activities under the existing legal framework.
This in turn makes it harder to understand why the NSA domestic surveillance program departed from previous practice. It makes you wonder what these Republicans are really up to, doesn't it?
Afghanistan update
Afghan and U.S. troops backed up by American aircraft fought suspected Taliban rebels in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, leaving one U.S. service member and an unknown number of militants dead, officials said.
A second U.S. service member and an Afghan soldier were wounded in the fighting in Helmand province's Sangin district, a hotbed of insurgency and the booming drug trade, a U.S. military statement said.
Fighting has spiked in southern Afghanistan in the past year, leaving swaths of it off-limits to aid workers and raising concerns for the country's future (and for you "Sleeve Christians") IN A COUNTRY WHERE CONVERTING FROM ISLAM TO CHRISTIANITY IS STILL A CRIME PUNISHABLE BY DEATH.
A second U.S. service member and an Afghan soldier were wounded in the fighting in Helmand province's Sangin district, a hotbed of insurgency and the booming drug trade, a U.S. military statement said.
Fighting has spiked in southern Afghanistan in the past year, leaving swaths of it off-limits to aid workers and raising concerns for the country's future (and for you "Sleeve Christians") IN A COUNTRY WHERE CONVERTING FROM ISLAM TO CHRISTIANITY IS STILL A CRIME PUNISHABLE BY DEATH.
24 March, 2006
consrvatives beginning to flee
Even Wm F Buckley (Mr.Conservative) now acknowledges the failure in Iraq--listen to what he says (and I quote)."One can't doubt that the American objective in Iraq has failed.
Our mission has failed because Iraqi animosities have proved uncontainable by an invading army of 130,000 Americans. The great human reserves that call for civil life haven't proved strong enough. .The Iraqis say that everything is the fault of the Americans.
The Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, elucidates on the complaint against Americans. It is not only that the invaders are American, it is that they are "Zionists."
President Bush, ultimately -has to cope with the postulates and decide how to proceed. One of these postulates, from the beginning, was that the Iraqi people, whatever their tribal differences, would suspend internal divisions in order to get on with life in a political structure that guaranteed them religious freedom.
The accompanying postulate was that the invading American army would succeed in training Iraqi soldiers and policymakers to cope with insurgents bent on violence.
They haven't happened and the administration has, now, to cope with failure. The failure in Iraq does not force us to generalize that violence and anti-democratic movements always prevail. It does call on us to adjust to the question.
It is healthier for the disillusioned American to concede that in one theater in the Mideast, the postulates didn't work. The alternative would be to abandon the postulates. To do that would be to register a kind of philosophical despair. " (unquote)
Some of us have known this all along.
Our mission has failed because Iraqi animosities have proved uncontainable by an invading army of 130,000 Americans. The great human reserves that call for civil life haven't proved strong enough. .The Iraqis say that everything is the fault of the Americans.
The Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, elucidates on the complaint against Americans. It is not only that the invaders are American, it is that they are "Zionists."
President Bush, ultimately -has to cope with the postulates and decide how to proceed. One of these postulates, from the beginning, was that the Iraqi people, whatever their tribal differences, would suspend internal divisions in order to get on with life in a political structure that guaranteed them religious freedom.
The accompanying postulate was that the invading American army would succeed in training Iraqi soldiers and policymakers to cope with insurgents bent on violence.
They haven't happened and the administration has, now, to cope with failure. The failure in Iraq does not force us to generalize that violence and anti-democratic movements always prevail. It does call on us to adjust to the question.
It is healthier for the disillusioned American to concede that in one theater in the Mideast, the postulates didn't work. The alternative would be to abandon the postulates. To do that would be to register a kind of philosophical despair. " (unquote)
Some of us have known this all along.
23 March, 2006
result of republicans hiring rich cronies
Medical and financial information gathered on millions of Americans by Medicare, Medicaid and other government programs is vulnerable to thieves or pranksters because of inadequate computer security, federal investigators say.
Investigators for the GAO reviewed management and audit reports from 2004 and 2005 that outline security practices at 13 Health and Human Services divisions of the federal government and found:
• Anti-virus software not installed or up to date.
• Lack of adequate control over computer passwords.
• Employees and contractors serving without background checks.
• Inadequate physical controls to prevent spying or theft, such as non-working surveillance cameras and unrestricted access to a data center.
"Fundamentally, it's an organization that is behind in making security part of its regular operations," says Alan Paller, who has seen the report but was not involved in writing it. Paller is research director at security firm the SANS Institute in Bethesda, Md. "It's very dangerous for health care data."
This is what happens when you hire your rich cronies in the top jobs.
Investigators for the GAO reviewed management and audit reports from 2004 and 2005 that outline security practices at 13 Health and Human Services divisions of the federal government and found:
• Anti-virus software not installed or up to date.
• Lack of adequate control over computer passwords.
• Employees and contractors serving without background checks.
• Inadequate physical controls to prevent spying or theft, such as non-working surveillance cameras and unrestricted access to a data center.
"Fundamentally, it's an organization that is behind in making security part of its regular operations," says Alan Paller, who has seen the report but was not involved in writing it. Paller is research director at security firm the SANS Institute in Bethesda, Md. "It's very dangerous for health care data."
This is what happens when you hire your rich cronies in the top jobs.
22 March, 2006
Republicans on fairness
Over the past few years, CEO and top executive pay has gone through the roof - often regardless of whether they are doing their jobs well. In just ten years, the average compensation of a CEO at the largest corporations jumped from $3.7 million to $9.1 million. That's an increase of almost 150%, and yet economists say the pay hikes haven't meant these companies performed any better.
It's wrong for the privileged few to keep getting raises while their companies aren't reaching their goals - or while their workers don't get a fair share of the pie. Some of these CEOs have even slashed pension funds, but found a way to reward themselves with massive pay hikes. This is wrong.
And as CEO pay shoots through the roof, the minimum wage has been stuck at $5.15 per hour for ten years -- which means someone can work full-time and still raise their kids in abject poverty.
So CEO pay goes up 150% in just a few years, and minimum wage worker pay goes up 0% in 10 years. Whatever happened to getting a fair day's pay for a hard day's work? How can Republicans think this is just or fair?
It's wrong for the privileged few to keep getting raises while their companies aren't reaching their goals - or while their workers don't get a fair share of the pie. Some of these CEOs have even slashed pension funds, but found a way to reward themselves with massive pay hikes. This is wrong.
And as CEO pay shoots through the roof, the minimum wage has been stuck at $5.15 per hour for ten years -- which means someone can work full-time and still raise their kids in abject poverty.
So CEO pay goes up 150% in just a few years, and minimum wage worker pay goes up 0% in 10 years. Whatever happened to getting a fair day's pay for a hard day's work? How can Republicans think this is just or fair?
20 March, 2006
Republican budget for you
Republican budget and consequences:
Social Security: Bush is trying to use the budget to sneak through his old $700 billion dollar plan to privatize Social Security and immediately slash benefits by $6.3 billion dollars.
Health Care: Bush would slash Medicaid by $13.7 billion over 5 years, abandoning millions of young, elderly, poor and disabled Americans who depend on Medicaid as their health care option of last resort.
Education: Bush is pushing for the largest cut in the history of the Department of Education, and to completely eliminate the Perkins loan, a vital program for college students in need.
Child care: Bush wants to kick 400,000 children out of child care programs for low income working families.
Budget busting tax breaks for the rich: Bush's budget would only continue to explode the deficit by giving away over $900 billion dollars to richest 1% of the population over 10 years.
Deeper debt: Bush wants to give so much away to millionaires that even after his service cuts the annual deficit would grow by almost $200 billion dollars.
Social Security: Bush is trying to use the budget to sneak through his old $700 billion dollar plan to privatize Social Security and immediately slash benefits by $6.3 billion dollars.
Health Care: Bush would slash Medicaid by $13.7 billion over 5 years, abandoning millions of young, elderly, poor and disabled Americans who depend on Medicaid as their health care option of last resort.
Education: Bush is pushing for the largest cut in the history of the Department of Education, and to completely eliminate the Perkins loan, a vital program for college students in need.
Child care: Bush wants to kick 400,000 children out of child care programs for low income working families.
Budget busting tax breaks for the rich: Bush's budget would only continue to explode the deficit by giving away over $900 billion dollars to richest 1% of the population over 10 years.
Deeper debt: Bush wants to give so much away to millionaires that even after his service cuts the annual deficit would grow by almost $200 billion dollars.
more prisoner abuse in Iraq
Check out the once secret Camp Nama, the secret headquarters of a military unit known as Task Force 6-26 at the Baghdad Airport for more abuse before and after the abuse of Abu Ghraib was made public.
Iraqi police,US troops,execution?
read today; Iraqi police have accused US troops of executing 11 people, including a 75-year-old woman and a 6-month-old infant (unusual because it originated with Iraqi plice and they were willing to attach their names to it) in the aftermath of a raid last Wednesday on a house about 60 miles north of Baghdad.
Afghanistan,still an Islamic country persecuting Christians
Read today 3-20-06: An Afghan man is being prosecuted in a Kabul court and could be sentenced to death on a charge of converting from Islam to Christianity, a crime under the current Afghan's Islamic laws. This is a country that we are fighting and dying for????
Buffet views on weakening dollar
The so-called Oracle of Omaha,Warren Buffett, the 75-year-old billionaire investor and chairman of insurance and industrial conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway reaffirmed his views on the dollar, which he expects will weaken "over time" due to U.S. fiscal policies.
"I think over time the dollar is going to weaken. I think that we are following a policy that will cause the dollar to weaken over time." he said. "It's the consumer's action in the end that is doing it but we have no governmental policy that counters the fact we are sending a couple of billion dollars a day abroad.
We are trading - we are buying goods and we are selling capital."
"I think over time the dollar is going to weaken. I think that we are following a policy that will cause the dollar to weaken over time." he said. "It's the consumer's action in the end that is doing it but we have no governmental policy that counters the fact we are sending a couple of billion dollars a day abroad.
We are trading - we are buying goods and we are selling capital."
Republicans sticking to their Iraq story
Vice President Cheney, appearing on CBS' Face the Nation, rejected Allawi's assessment that Iraq is in a state of civil war and said insurgents have "reached a stage of desperation."
Cheney also said he did not regret previous statements — that U.S. forces would be greeted as liberators and that the insurgency was in its last throes — and said they "were basically accurate, reflect reality."
Apparently, if you tell a lie often enough and stick to your story, people are expected to believe you and know what the party line continues to be.l
Cheney also said he did not regret previous statements — that U.S. forces would be greeted as liberators and that the insurgency was in its last throes — and said they "were basically accurate, reflect reality."
Apparently, if you tell a lie often enough and stick to your story, people are expected to believe you and know what the party line continues to be.l
Corporations shipping jobs overseas update
Scores of Western companies have been cutting costs by shifting software development, engineering design and routine office functions to countries such as India, where English-speaking workers are plentiful and wages are low.
Dell plans to double the number of its employees in India to 20,000 in three years, Chairman Michael Dell said Monday.
Dell plans to double the number of its employees in India to 20,000 in three years, Chairman Michael Dell said Monday.
19 March, 2006
partial account of Iraqi dead
"At least" 2,314 members of the U.S. military have died, not counting (1)"contractors" (2) Iraqi civilians (3) the tens of thousands that have been wounded, and the one in five surviving soldiers that have lingering mental problems.
update Iraq, someone update republicans
"It is unfortunate that we are in civil war. We are losing each day as an average 50 to 60 people throughout the country, if not more," Ayad Allawi told the British Broadcasting Corp. "If this is not civil war, then God knows what civil war is."
Allawi, who heads the Iraqi National List, a secular alliance of Shiite and Sunni politicians, said the violence in the country was moving toward "the point of no return."
He said not only that Iraq could "fall apart," but added that "sectarianism will spread throughout the region, and even Europe and the United States would not be spared all the violence that may occur as a result of sectarian problems in this region."
Allawi, who heads the Iraqi National List, a secular alliance of Shiite and Sunni politicians, said the violence in the country was moving toward "the point of no return."
He said not only that Iraq could "fall apart," but added that "sectarianism will spread throughout the region, and even Europe and the United States would not be spared all the violence that may occur as a result of sectarian problems in this region."
18 March, 2006
Iraq,strike-first,USA weakened,lack of trust
The Iraq invasion, far from being a success, provides a cautionary tale about just why strike-first needs to remain, as in the past, the final option. In Iraq, it vaulted to the top of the agenda. Key administration figures — notably Vice President Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld — had been itching for a war with Iraq long before 9/11.
After the terror attacks, they asserted links between Saddam and al-Qaeda where there was none. Because the administration rushed into war without building alliances, few countries joined in.
After three years of turmoil, Iraq stands on the brink of civil war. Al-Qaeda operatives who weren't in Iraq before have gone there to fight U.S. forces. Neighboring Iran is increasingly influential with Iraqi Shiites, compounding the nuclear threat Iran presents.
Worse, because of Iraq, the U.S. ability to use pre-emption in the future, when it might really be needed, is weakened. Most of the world sees the USA as a global bully and its intelligence as suspect. U.S. forces are overstretched. And getting backing for a new pre-emptive attack from a public made wary by the Iraq experience would be difficult.
After the terror attacks, they asserted links between Saddam and al-Qaeda where there was none. Because the administration rushed into war without building alliances, few countries joined in.
After three years of turmoil, Iraq stands on the brink of civil war. Al-Qaeda operatives who weren't in Iraq before have gone there to fight U.S. forces. Neighboring Iran is increasingly influential with Iraqi Shiites, compounding the nuclear threat Iran presents.
Worse, because of Iraq, the U.S. ability to use pre-emption in the future, when it might really be needed, is weakened. Most of the world sees the USA as a global bully and its intelligence as suspect. U.S. forces are overstretched. And getting backing for a new pre-emptive attack from a public made wary by the Iraq experience would be difficult.
Pre-emption in Iraq, learning the wrong lessons!
As the world now knows, the intelligence was wrong. Saddam had neither ties to bin Laden nor weapons of mass destruction. The cost of this misapplication of pre-emption — in U.S. lives, money and credibility — has been incalculable.
So what has Bush learned? Officially, at least, not much. On Thursday, the White House published its first National Security Strategy since the one that enshrined the Bush Doctrine.
Perhaps not surprisingly for an administration loath to admit error, the document casts Iraq as a pre-emption success. "With the elimination of Saddam's regime, this threat has been addressed once and for all," it declares. The pre-emption policy "remains the same." Talk about learning the wrong lessons.
So what has Bush learned? Officially, at least, not much. On Thursday, the White House published its first National Security Strategy since the one that enshrined the Bush Doctrine.
Perhaps not surprisingly for an administration loath to admit error, the document casts Iraq as a pre-emption success. "With the elimination of Saddam's regime, this threat has been addressed once and for all," it declares. The pre-emption policy "remains the same." Talk about learning the wrong lessons.
drug benefit plan designed by insurance companies
Many elderly and disabled Americans enrolled for the Medicare drug benefit will face new difficulties in obtaining their medicines on April 1, say advocacy groups familiar with the program.
On that date, insurers will have more latitude to tell pharmacists that they won't pay for a particular drug. Before that, insurers have been told, they should pay for a prescription even if it's not on the list of drugs they cover.
"I think that, after April 1, you're going to see huge problems with access. It's going to be January 1 all over again," said Tom Clark, policy director at the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists. The association represents pharmacists who serve nursing homes
On that date, insurers will have more latitude to tell pharmacists that they won't pay for a particular drug. Before that, insurers have been told, they should pay for a prescription even if it's not on the list of drugs they cover.
"I think that, after April 1, you're going to see huge problems with access. It's going to be January 1 all over again," said Tom Clark, policy director at the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists. The association represents pharmacists who serve nursing homes
16 March, 2006
Even prominent neo-conservatives are beginning to jump ship on the war and even neo-conservatism. Professor Francis Fukuyama has gone so far as to renounce his affiliations with Cheney, Rumsfeld and the pre-emption doctrine. Fukuyama was one of the 25 original founders of the Project for the New American Century—the intellectual founding document for neo-conservative foreign policy.
Writing in The New York Times last month, Fukuyama said: "As we approach the third anniversary of the onset of the Iraq war, it seems very unlikely that history will judge either the intervention itself or the ideas animating it kindly. By invading Iraq, the Bush administration created a self-fulfilling prophecy: Iraq has now replaced Afghanistan as a magnet, a training ground and an operational base for jihadist terrorists, with plenty of American targets to shoot at."
He added, "The so-called Bush Doctrine that set the framework for the administration's first term is now in shambles." And, "Neoconservatism, as both a political symbol and a body of thought, has evolved into something I can no longer support."
It is clear that the Bush pre-emption polices are a disaster—and now they're being rejected by people from Left to Right, while Bush continues to push the same spin believing that if you say the same thing enough times, people will believe it.
Writing in The New York Times last month, Fukuyama said: "As we approach the third anniversary of the onset of the Iraq war, it seems very unlikely that history will judge either the intervention itself or the ideas animating it kindly. By invading Iraq, the Bush administration created a self-fulfilling prophecy: Iraq has now replaced Afghanistan as a magnet, a training ground and an operational base for jihadist terrorists, with plenty of American targets to shoot at."
He added, "The so-called Bush Doctrine that set the framework for the administration's first term is now in shambles." And, "Neoconservatism, as both a political symbol and a body of thought, has evolved into something I can no longer support."
It is clear that the Bush pre-emption polices are a disaster—and now they're being rejected by people from Left to Right, while Bush continues to push the same spin believing that if you say the same thing enough times, people will believe it.
Iraq, first-strike policy, killing fields
Undaunted by the killing fields in Iraq, President Bush today reaffirmed his strike-first policy. . He is a "bring it on" fanatical crusader spreading fear as a way of controlling us and attempting to control the world, and he is using us to kill innocent people around the world. All the while by threatening people with our first- strike capability,they are causing us to be more at risk. We must vote these people out of offce.
Iraq update
Eleven people - most of them women and children - have been killed after US forces bombed a house during a raid north of Baghdad, police and relatives said. The killed family was not part of the resistance, they were women and children.
rule of law
Freedom requires respect for the rule of law. President Bush already had the authority to wiretap suspected terrorists—he could even wiretap first and get warrants 3 days later. But he chose to get no warrants at all, clearly violating the law set up to protect innocent Americans and then he mislead (lied to) Congress and the American people about his program. We are not free if a President doesn't follow the law and violates laws that are constitutional and have been passed by Congress representing we the people. If he can pick and choose those he will follow why can’t we?
14 March, 2006
Bush, big oil, profits, remember to vote
Oil giants ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips , the U.S. units of BP and Royal Dutch Shell and major oil refiner Valero are making record profits.
This dramatic consolidation of the oil and gas industry has gone largely unchecked by the federal government, the Bushes are heavily invested in Big Oil. Exxon alone earned more than $36 billion last year, the biggest profit ever for a U.S. company.
Oil and gas mergers in recent years have boosted energy prices. The national retail price for regular unleaded gasoline has jumped 11.2 cents over the past two weeks to $2.37 a gallon, the highest level since early November, the Energy Department reported Monday. Remembmer to vote.
This dramatic consolidation of the oil and gas industry has gone largely unchecked by the federal government, the Bushes are heavily invested in Big Oil. Exxon alone earned more than $36 billion last year, the biggest profit ever for a U.S. company.
Oil and gas mergers in recent years have boosted energy prices. The national retail price for regular unleaded gasoline has jumped 11.2 cents over the past two weeks to $2.37 a gallon, the highest level since early November, the Energy Department reported Monday. Remembmer to vote.
update Iraq
"At least" 2,308 members of the U.S. military have died, not counting (1)"contractors" (2) Iraqi civilians (3) the tens of thousands that have been wounded, and the one in five surviving soldiers that have lingering mental problems.
13 March, 2006
American people waking up to bush republicans.
President Bush's "approval rating" has sunk to a new low according to a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup poll released Monday. The latest results show only 36% of those polled saying they "approve" of the way Bush is handling his job.
Asked two years ago if they were "certain that the U.S. will win" the war with Iraq, 79% of those polled said yes. The answer last weekend: 22%. Finally, the people are waking up. Hurrah for the intelligence of the American People.
Asked two years ago if they were "certain that the U.S. will win" the war with Iraq, 79% of those polled said yes. The answer last weekend: 22%. Finally, the people are waking up. Hurrah for the intelligence of the American People.
impeach or censure?
The resolution says the president "repeatedly misled the public" before the disclosure of the NSA program last December when he indicated the administration was relying on court orders to wiretap terror suspects inside the U.S.
"Congress has to reassert our system of government, and the cleanest and the most efficient way to do that is to censure the president," Feingold said. "And, hopefully, he will acknowledge that he did something wrong."
"Congress has to reassert our system of government, and the cleanest and the most efficient way to do that is to censure the president," Feingold said. "And, hopefully, he will acknowledge that he did something wrong."
12 March, 2006
Don't trust the military
Chief Warrant Officer Ronald Eagle, an expert on enemy targeting, served 20 years in the military -- 10 years of active duty in the Air Force, another 10 in the West Virginia National Guard. Then he decided enough was enough. He owned a promising new aircraft-maintenance business, and it needed his attention. His retirement date was set for last February.
Staff Sgt. Justin Fontaine, a generator mechanic, enrolled in the Massachusetts National Guard out of high school and served nearly nine years. In preparation for his exit date last March, he turned in his field gear -- his rucksack and web belt, his uniforms and canteen.
An interrogator in an intelligence unit, joined the Army Reserve in 1991, extended his enlistment in 1999 and then re-upped for three years in 2000. Costas, a U.S. Border Patrol officer in Texas, was due to retire from the reserves in last May
According to their contracts, expectations and desires, all three soldiers should have been civilians by now. But Fontaine and Costas are currently serving in Iraq, and Eagle has just been deployed. On their Army paychecks, the expiration date of their military service is now listed sometime after 2030 -- the payroll computer's way of saying, "Who knows?"
Through a series of stop-loss orders, the Army alone has blocked the possible retirements and departures of more than 40,000 soldiers, about 16,000 of them National Guard and reserve members who were eligible to leave the service this year. Hundreds more in the Air Force, Navy and Marines were briefly blocked from retiring or departing the military at some point this year.
"An enlistment contract has two parties, yet only the government is allowed to violate the contract; I am not," said Costas, 42, who signed an e-mail from Iraq this month "Chained in Iraq," an allusion to the fact that he and his fellow reservists remained in Baghdad after the active-duty unit into which they were transferred last spring went home.
He has now been told that he will be home late next June, more than a year after his contractual departure date. "Unfair. I would not say it's a draft per se, but it's clearly a breach of contract. I will not reenlist."
"We don't ever trust anything we're told," said Chris Walsh of Southington, Conn., whose wife, Jessica, an eighth-grade English teacher, is a military police officer in a National Guard unit in Baghdad. She may end up serving nearly two years beyond her original exit date of July 2002, Chris Walsh said. "We've been disappointed too many times."
Staff Sgt. Justin Fontaine, a generator mechanic, enrolled in the Massachusetts National Guard out of high school and served nearly nine years. In preparation for his exit date last March, he turned in his field gear -- his rucksack and web belt, his uniforms and canteen.
An interrogator in an intelligence unit, joined the Army Reserve in 1991, extended his enlistment in 1999 and then re-upped for three years in 2000. Costas, a U.S. Border Patrol officer in Texas, was due to retire from the reserves in last May
According to their contracts, expectations and desires, all three soldiers should have been civilians by now. But Fontaine and Costas are currently serving in Iraq, and Eagle has just been deployed. On their Army paychecks, the expiration date of their military service is now listed sometime after 2030 -- the payroll computer's way of saying, "Who knows?"
Through a series of stop-loss orders, the Army alone has blocked the possible retirements and departures of more than 40,000 soldiers, about 16,000 of them National Guard and reserve members who were eligible to leave the service this year. Hundreds more in the Air Force, Navy and Marines were briefly blocked from retiring or departing the military at some point this year.
"An enlistment contract has two parties, yet only the government is allowed to violate the contract; I am not," said Costas, 42, who signed an e-mail from Iraq this month "Chained in Iraq," an allusion to the fact that he and his fellow reservists remained in Baghdad after the active-duty unit into which they were transferred last spring went home.
He has now been told that he will be home late next June, more than a year after his contractual departure date. "Unfair. I would not say it's a draft per se, but it's clearly a breach of contract. I will not reenlist."
"We don't ever trust anything we're told," said Chris Walsh of Southington, Conn., whose wife, Jessica, an eighth-grade English teacher, is a military police officer in a National Guard unit in Baghdad. She may end up serving nearly two years beyond her original exit date of July 2002, Chris Walsh said. "We've been disappointed too many times."
Why Republicans outing of Plame is a big deal
NOCs (the word rhymes with "rocks") are the most covert CIA operatives. They typically work abroad without diplomatic protection (often they pretend to work for some commercial enterprise). If these spies are caught, there's no guarantee that the United States would admit their true identities. When using official cover could put a spy's life and work at risk, NOC is the only alternative.
Why is it such a big deal that someone outed Valerie Plame? For starters, it's a felony. And Plame was also reportedly a NOC with years of experience investigating weapons of mass destruction. If this is true, her discovery could compromise intelligence operations she was involved with around the world, which would explain why she maintained her nonofficial cover even when she was back in the United States.
"Hard target" countries like China and North Korea often keep records of every known meeting between Americans and their scientists and officials. Almost certainly, those lists would have been frantically reviewed when Plame's identity was revealed, and any sources she recruited could have been exposed.
Why is it such a big deal that someone outed Valerie Plame? For starters, it's a felony. And Plame was also reportedly a NOC with years of experience investigating weapons of mass destruction. If this is true, her discovery could compromise intelligence operations she was involved with around the world, which would explain why she maintained her nonofficial cover even when she was back in the United States.
"Hard target" countries like China and North Korea often keep records of every known meeting between Americans and their scientists and officials. Almost certainly, those lists would have been frantically reviewed when Plame's identity was revealed, and any sources she recruited could have been exposed.
Democrats finally standing up on ports and economy
"Republicans have shown a pre-9/11 mind-set when it comes to closing the gaps in our security at our ports," the Democratic chairman said. "Democrats will continue to fight to secure our ports."
On another issue, Dean assailed Bush for running up the U.S. debt by $3 trillion during his tenure, contending that amounts to another security crisis.
"One of the implications of this increased debt is that increasingly, foreigners are financing this debt, putting the American economy in the hands of foreign debt holders, just like the ports deal would have put port security in the hands of a foreign-owned government," Dean said.
Dean said the Democrats will oppose budgets that deepen the deficit. Finally, Democrats are standing up to this republican idiocy.
On another issue, Dean assailed Bush for running up the U.S. debt by $3 trillion during his tenure, contending that amounts to another security crisis.
"One of the implications of this increased debt is that increasingly, foreigners are financing this debt, putting the American economy in the hands of foreign debt holders, just like the ports deal would have put port security in the hands of a foreign-owned government," Dean said.
Dean said the Democrats will oppose budgets that deepen the deficit. Finally, Democrats are standing up to this republican idiocy.
11 March, 2006
Republican shell game
Critics also say that by highlighting the grants to faith-based groups, the administration is distorting the overall funding picture. Bush is "cooking the numbers" and that while more money is going to faith-based groups, less is going to secular groups. "There is no new money for the poor," he says. "People are told about increases in spending for faith-based groups, but not told about cuts in other programs."
Now instead of money they have raised, "faith based" groups are spending your tax dollars in their charity programs and using their fund raising for parties and other in-house activities,coupled with cuts in federal spending,it is a net dencrease to the poor.
Now instead of money they have raised, "faith based" groups are spending your tax dollars in their charity programs and using their fund raising for parties and other in-house activities,coupled with cuts in federal spending,it is a net dencrease to the poor.
A tip of the iceberg?
Allen, Delay, Abramoff,Burton,Livingstone,Cunningham, Lay, Skilling, Gingerich and a host over other senior corporate executives (all alledged, indicted or convicted evildoers) are Republicans, Surprise! surprise!
Now, grants(your money) are routine and have quietly increased to the point where groups affiliated with churches, synagogues, or other "faith communities" now receive more than $2.1 billion a year from the federal government, They return the favor in votes. Neat isn't it.
Now, grants(your money) are routine and have quietly increased to the point where groups affiliated with churches, synagogues, or other "faith communities" now receive more than $2.1 billion a year from the federal government, They return the favor in votes. Neat isn't it.
Republican sympathy for an alleged thief
Claude Alexander Allen, 45, Bush's domestic policy advisor until he abuptly resigned in February, was arrested Thursday by police in Montgomery County, Md., for allegedly claiming refunds for more than $5,000 worth of merchandise he did not buy, according to county and federal authorities.
Bush said, "If the allegations are true, something went wrong in Claude Allen's life, and that is really sad." When was the last time you heard republicans say about a thief, "something went wrong in his life and that is really sad?
Bush said, "If the allegations are true, something went wrong in Claude Allen's life, and that is really sad." When was the last time you heard republicans say about a thief, "something went wrong in his life and that is really sad?
good advice
The 38-year-old country singer also criticized President Bush, who visited the devastated Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans on Wednesday.
"There's no reason why someone can't go down there — who's supposed to be the leader of the free world — and say, 'I'm giving you a job to do and I'm not leaving here until it's done. And you're held accountable,'" he said.
Later in the news conference, McGraw let out a stream of frustration, growling, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore." The couple were married in 1996.
When asked what their fans could do to help, McGraw said: "Vote."
"There's no reason why someone can't go down there — who's supposed to be the leader of the free world — and say, 'I'm giving you a job to do and I'm not leaving here until it's done. And you're held accountable,'" he said.
Later in the news conference, McGraw let out a stream of frustration, growling, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore." The couple were married in 1996.
When asked what their fans could do to help, McGraw said: "Vote."
These republicans never quit.
Republicans are now trying to say that cancelling the port takeover is a bad thing.
They now are saying that the developments could make cash-rich investors in the Persian Gulf, where there is the widespread belief that the furor was rooted in anti-Arab bias, wary of high-profile investments in the United States.
Hey, it's a good thing to dis-motivate the foreign rich from buying up all of our assets, especially those with security issues.
They now are saying that the developments could make cash-rich investors in the Persian Gulf, where there is the widespread belief that the furor was rooted in anti-Arab bias, wary of high-profile investments in the United States.
Hey, it's a good thing to dis-motivate the foreign rich from buying up all of our assets, especially those with security issues.
10 March, 2006
what the people think of Republicans
read today:
More and more people disapprove of Republican's performance, question their character and no longer consider them strong leaders against terrorism according to an AP-Ipsos poll. Well, it's about time.
More and more people disapprove of Republican's performance, question their character and no longer consider them strong leaders against terrorism according to an AP-Ipsos poll. Well, it's about time.
Republican economics
One America that does the work, another America that reaps the reward. One America that pays the taxes, another America that gets the tax breaks. One America that will do anything to leave its children a better life, another America that never has to do a thing because its children are already set for life.
The minimum wage has been stuck at $5.15 per hour for ten years--while costs for health care, housing, child care, transportation and everything else have skyrocketed and executive pay has steadily increased. Executives have figured out how to pay themselves more, while paying their workers less. It's a disgrace--but not a surprise--that poverty is up for the fourth year in a row.
The minimum wage has been stuck at $5.15 per hour for ten years--while costs for health care, housing, child care, transportation and everything else have skyrocketed and executive pay has steadily increased. Executives have figured out how to pay themselves more, while paying their workers less. It's a disgrace--but not a surprise--that poverty is up for the fourth year in a row.
09 March, 2006
enjoy your Republican economy
The biggest ever monthly deficit follows a record annual trade deficit of $723.6 billion in 2005. The trade gap would exceed $800 billion in 2006 if it continued to run at the pace set in the first month of the year.
Another report said the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week to 303,000, the highest level since the start of the year.
Another report said the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week to 303,000, the highest level since the start of the year.
06 March, 2006
Iraq, dead, wounded, mental problems
"At least" 2,300 members of the U.S. military have died, not counting (1)"contractors" (2) Iraqi civilians (3) the tens of thousands that have been wounded, and the one in five surviving soldiers that have lingering mental problems.
05 March, 2006
Delta funnels money to Republicans but can't pay employees
Delta Air Lines, the nation's third-largest carrier, asked a bankruptcy court judge Friday to approve $3.9 million in payments to some of the airline's advisers.
The professional fees to Delta's auditors and advisers include a request to pay more than $1.8 million to the consulting firm of former New York City and possible Republican candidate for President in 2008, Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
The pilots union says it will strike if its contract is thrown out by a panel of arbitrators that will hold hearings starting March 13. Chief Executive Officer Gerald Grinstein, at a public event Friday, told reporters "Delta is cooked" and will not survive if the pilots strike.
The professional fees to Delta's auditors and advisers include a request to pay more than $1.8 million to the consulting firm of former New York City and possible Republican candidate for President in 2008, Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
The pilots union says it will strike if its contract is thrown out by a panel of arbitrators that will hold hearings starting March 13. Chief Executive Officer Gerald Grinstein, at a public event Friday, told reporters "Delta is cooked" and will not survive if the pilots strike.
Republican India policy will lead to expanded nukes
Mr. Bush's team says it designed the India deal as a way to build a "strategic partnership" with the world's largest democracy, after decades of estrangement. India has proved itself a responsible power, Mr. Bush said. That the country is one of the fastest-growing emerging markets, a favorite destination for technology companies, a market for his rich friends.
The part of the deal the administration likes to talk about allows India to buy American fuel for its civilian reactors for the first time, in exchange for opening them to international inspection.
But India only designated 14 of its sites as "civilian" plants that it permanently guarantees can be inspected (up from four a few months ago), meaning that the additional eight can be used to make bomb fuel.
The administration's negotiator "caved on that one early on," in the words of Robert J. Einhorn, a nonproliferation expert who served under President Clinton and in the early days of Mr. Bush's tenure.
Since the United States would now sell India fuel for its newly declared civilian reactors — assuming Congress goes along — the Indians can devote their domestic uranium supply to weapons. It substantially expands the supply of uranium the Indians have for military purposes.
The part of the deal the administration likes to talk about allows India to buy American fuel for its civilian reactors for the first time, in exchange for opening them to international inspection.
But India only designated 14 of its sites as "civilian" plants that it permanently guarantees can be inspected (up from four a few months ago), meaning that the additional eight can be used to make bomb fuel.
The administration's negotiator "caved on that one early on," in the words of Robert J. Einhorn, a nonproliferation expert who served under President Clinton and in the early days of Mr. Bush's tenure.
Since the United States would now sell India fuel for its newly declared civilian reactors — assuming Congress goes along — the Indians can devote their domestic uranium supply to weapons. It substantially expands the supply of uranium the Indians have for military purposes.
Republican secrecy violates Constitution
Despite the Sixth Amendment's guarantee of public trials, nearly all records are being kept secret for more than 5,000 defendants who completed their journey through the federal courts over the last three years. Instances of such secrecy more than doubled from 2003 to 2005.
What makes the American criminal justice system different from so many others in the world is our willingness to cast some sunshine on the process, but if you can't see it, you can't really criticize it.
The data show a sharp increase in secret case files over time as the Bush administration's well-documented reliance on secrecy in the executive branch has crept into the federal courts through the war on drugs, anti-terrorism efforts and other criminal matters.
"This follows the pattern of this administration," said John Wesley Hall, an Arkansas defense attorney and second vice president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
What makes the American criminal justice system different from so many others in the world is our willingness to cast some sunshine on the process, but if you can't see it, you can't really criticize it.
The data show a sharp increase in secret case files over time as the Bush administration's well-documented reliance on secrecy in the executive branch has crept into the federal courts through the war on drugs, anti-terrorism efforts and other criminal matters.
"This follows the pattern of this administration," said John Wesley Hall, an Arkansas defense attorney and second vice president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Support our troops,Oppose the war
Tillman joined the Army after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks even though he had a multimillion-dollar contract to play football for the Arizona Cardinals. He and his brother completed a tour in Iraq before going to Afghanistan
Tillman, 27, died on April 22, 2004, when he was struck by gunfire during a firefight along a canyon road near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The Army said at the time that the barrage of bullets came from enemy fire.
Tillman's mother, Mary, told the Washington Post Saturday that the criminal investigation should have been launched at the onset. "The military has had every opportunity to do the right thing and they haven't," she said. "They knew all along that something was seriously wrong and they just wanted to cover it up."
A report by the Army later found that troops with Tillman knew at the time that friendly fire had killed the football star. Officers destroyed critical evidence and concealed the truth from Tillman's brother, also an Army Ranger, who was nearby, the report found.
Tillman, 27, died on April 22, 2004, when he was struck by gunfire during a firefight along a canyon road near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The Army said at the time that the barrage of bullets came from enemy fire.
Tillman's mother, Mary, told the Washington Post Saturday that the criminal investigation should have been launched at the onset. "The military has had every opportunity to do the right thing and they haven't," she said. "They knew all along that something was seriously wrong and they just wanted to cover it up."
A report by the Army later found that troops with Tillman knew at the time that friendly fire had killed the football star. Officers destroyed critical evidence and concealed the truth from Tillman's brother, also an Army Ranger, who was nearby, the report found.
04 March, 2006
Republican economy
Now that America's savings rate has been negative for an entire year, a first since the Great Depression, there is more evidence that, under Republican control, we are a nation on its way to the poor house.
Iraq, republicans, both sides hate us
Anger at the Americans and the Iraqi government found its way to pulpits on both sides of the Shiite-Sunni divide.
In Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad, Cleric Ahmed Hassan al-Taha accused U.S. forces and their allies of stoking the tension between majority Shiites and minority Sunnis. "Iraqis were living in harmony until the occupiers and those who came with them arrived in this country. They are responsible for igniting sectarianism," al-Taha said.
We have been saying all along, after throwing away $320 billion (this much admitted to), we will still be the enemy of both sides and the Iraqi government will be dominated by the Shiite majority aligned with Iran, thanks to our republicans.
In Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad, Cleric Ahmed Hassan al-Taha accused U.S. forces and their allies of stoking the tension between majority Shiites and minority Sunnis. "Iraqis were living in harmony until the occupiers and those who came with them arrived in this country. They are responsible for igniting sectarianism," al-Taha said.
We have been saying all along, after throwing away $320 billion (this much admitted to), we will still be the enemy of both sides and the Iraqi government will be dominated by the Shiite majority aligned with Iran, thanks to our republicans.
republicans and trade deficits
Warren Buffett says he remains bothered by the U.S. trade deficit, which rose 17.5% last year to a record $725.8 billion. These Republicans just don't get it
03 March, 2006
Republicans outsourcing jobs for cheap labor
The outsourcing industry — in which Indian firms handle everything from software engineering to customer service call centers for U.S. and other foreign companies — is expected to bring in $22 billion in revenue alone this fiscal year. Much of that outsourcing business is generated by U.S. companies. Many have eliminated domestic jobs for cheaper Indian labor.
Bush can't even get that right
"I believe that a prosperous, democratic Pakistan will be a steadfast partner for America, a peaceful neighbor for India and a force for freedom and moderation in the Arab world."
Later, White House press secretary Scott McClellan told reporters that Bush meant to say Pakistan would be a force in the Muslim world. Pakistan is not an Arab country.
Later, White House press secretary Scott McClellan told reporters that Bush meant to say Pakistan would be a force in the Muslim world. Pakistan is not an Arab country.
02 March, 2006
Republican cronies make money on Katrina
It is at least possible that the delay in responding to Katrina was so they could have the time to arrange for their rich Republican friends to profit from the money that would flow. The Carnival Cruise line deal may only be the tip of the iceberg. That should be investigated.
Republican payback
Did Florida Governor Jeb Bush improperly line up a $236 million government contract for Carnival Cruise Lines after Hurricane Katrina? That's what Congressman Henry Waxman (D-Ca.) is accusing.
Waxman released a series of e-mails today that were among many provided to Congress from former FEMA director Michael Brown. Along with correspondence from Brown, those e-mails include Bush's communications with Carnival advertising executive Ric Davis, who also happens to be a major political donor to the Republican party.
Waxman released a series of e-mails today that were among many provided to Congress from former FEMA director Michael Brown. Along with correspondence from Brown, those e-mails include Bush's communications with Carnival advertising executive Ric Davis, who also happens to be a major political donor to the Republican party.
Republicans and lies
These Republicans said
1. There were WMD's in Iraq and they knew where they were-not true
2. Iraq was acquiring WMD materials from Africa--not true (we went to war on those) and
3.Bush said 5 days later that he didn't know how bad Katrina was going to be--watch the just released tape and you will see that he was told what to expect the day before Katrina hit landfall AND in the next two days he campaigned, attended birthday parties and played the guitar while the worst natural disaster in American history killed over 1,300 people and displaced hundreds of thousands.
Either he is the most incompetent in history or the worst liar. We report, you decide.
1. There were WMD's in Iraq and they knew where they were-not true
2. Iraq was acquiring WMD materials from Africa--not true (we went to war on those) and
3.Bush said 5 days later that he didn't know how bad Katrina was going to be--watch the just released tape and you will see that he was told what to expect the day before Katrina hit landfall AND in the next two days he campaigned, attended birthday parties and played the guitar while the worst natural disaster in American history killed over 1,300 people and displaced hundreds of thousands.
Either he is the most incompetent in history or the worst liar. We report, you decide.
Bush lied, AGAIN
At the August 28th briefing, the president was told exactly what to expect:
• The chief scientist of the National Hurricane Center warned that a major levee breach was "obviously a very, very grave concern." Bush lied to the entire nation about this point just 5 days later.
• Michael Brown told the president that if New Orleans flooded the Superdome emergency shelter would likely be under water and short on supplies, creating a "catastrophe within a catastrophe."
• Experts and officials implored the President to prepare for, as the AP described it, "devastation of historic proportions."
President Bush didn't ask a single question during the briefing. In the next two days he campaigned, attended birthday parties and played guitar while the worst natural disaster in American history killed over 1,300 people and displaced hundreds of thousands. If you listen to the video just released, you will see that he did know.
• The chief scientist of the National Hurricane Center warned that a major levee breach was "obviously a very, very grave concern." Bush lied to the entire nation about this point just 5 days later.
• Michael Brown told the president that if New Orleans flooded the Superdome emergency shelter would likely be under water and short on supplies, creating a "catastrophe within a catastrophe."
• Experts and officials implored the President to prepare for, as the AP described it, "devastation of historic proportions."
President Bush didn't ask a single question during the briefing. In the next two days he campaigned, attended birthday parties and played guitar while the worst natural disaster in American history killed over 1,300 people and displaced hundreds of thousands. If you listen to the video just released, you will see that he did know.
01 March, 2006
Republicans on the environment
The Endangered Species Act has been "remarkably successful" in the Northeast, a New England Wild Flower Society report said Tuesday
The report comes amid proposals to alter the act in Congress, where Republicans claim that too few of the listed species have recovered under the act
The report comes amid proposals to alter the act in Congress, where Republicans claim that too few of the listed species have recovered under the act
Republicans block civil liberties safeguards
Senate Republicans moved Wednesday to prevent Democrats from trying to add more civil liberties safeguards to a renewal of the 2001 Patriot Act due to expire next week. Who said, "If you are willing to give up liberties in the name of security, you deserve neither?"
Iraq, troops, mental health
Besides the dead and wounded, what are Republicans doing to our troops? Well, more than a third of U.S. soldiers and Marines fighting in Iraq visited a mental health specialist at least once after their combat tour, evidence of the emotional trauma of the war. The study found about 1 in 5 veterans of Iraq show evidence of mental health problems.
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